Philip Roth (1933-2018)

Philip Roth (1933-2018) died last night, a soaring voice of American letters, a calming presence of intelligence, wit, decency and scorn in the chaos and cruel indifference of American culture. He was a personal, often difficult, friend for many years, as he was to many young aspiring writers and critics, and possessed what Henry James called a literary conscience. He was the last truly great American writer of the twentieth century.

Philip came to YIVO in 2011 to read from his last novel, Nemesis, and participate in a panel discussion of his work. After the reading, attended by over 350 people (the YIVO auditorium can accommodate no more than 240), I sent him a copy of the 2-volume YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe. Two weeks later not having heard whether he received it or not, I called him. “Jonathan,” he said, “I’m glad you called. I’m sitting here with your Encyclopedia.” “You’re reading it? I sent it to thank you, not because I thought you would actually read it.” “No, no,” Roth said. “I used to think I was born in Newark, but now I realize it’s a much bigger story.”

Roth came to see that bigger story and became thereby a permanent part of the story of The YIVO Institute.

—Jonathan Brent, Executive Director